Expenditure Estimates Ombudsman Ontario (2016-17)

Summary

The Ombudsman is an Officer of the Legislature who submits his reports directly to the Legislative Assembly. The Ombudsman's mandate is set out in the Ombudsman Act. The Ombudsman publishes an Annual Report as required by the Act, as well as special reports throughout the year on systemic investigations conducted by the Special Ombudsman Response Team.

The Ombudsman investigates complaints about the administration of Ontario's provincial governmental organizations, as well as municipalities, universities and school boards. The Ombudsman makes recommendations to improve public policy, programs and services. The Ombudsman investigates both individual and systemic complaints brought forward by members of the public, Members of Provincial Parliament, and on his own initiative. The Ombudsman also investigates citizens' complaints about closed municipal meetings pursuant to the Municipal Act, where no municipal investigator is in place. The Ombudsman’s services are free of charge.

In December of 2014, The Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014 - known familiarly as "Bill 8" - passed. This legislation expanded the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction to include the province’s 82 school boards and school authorities (as of September 1, 2015), 444 municipalities and 21 publicly funded universities (as of January 1, 2016). During the 2015-16 fiscal year, the Office of the Ombudsman received 22,118 complaints.

In 2015-16 the Ombudsman received approval from the Board of Internal Economy for an additional 57 FTEs to support its new jurisdiction, for a total of 143 FTEs. Recruitment continues to fill the newly allocated positions.

The Office of the Ombudsman maintains a high social media presence and individuals may contact the Office to lodge a complaint in person, in writing, via toll-free telephone, email, internet or using a mobile web application. The Office provides extensive information about its operations and specific investigations in both English and French, on its website at www.ombudsman.on.ca.

Ombudsman Ontario Program - vote 2301

The Ombudsman's mandate is set out in the Ombudsman Act. The Ombudsman publishes an Annual Report as required by the Act, as well as special reports throughout the year on systemic investigations conducted by the Special Ombudsman Response Team.

The Ombudsman investigates complaints about the administration of Ontario's provincial governmental organizations, as well as municipalities, universities and school boards. The Ombudsman makes recommendations to improve public policy, programs and services. The Ombudsman investigates both individual and systemic complaints brought forward by members of the public, Members of Provincial Parliament, and on his own initiative. The Ombudsman also investigates citizens' complaints about closed municipal meetings pursuant to the Municipal Act, where no municipal investigator is in place. The Ombudsman’s services are free of charge.

In December of 2014, The Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014 - known familiarly as "Bill 8" - passed. This legislation expanded the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction to include the province’s 82 school boards and school authorities (as of September 1, 2015), 444 municipalities and 21 publicly funded universities (as of January 1, 2016). During the 2015-16 fiscal year, the Office of the Ombudsman received 22,118 complaints.

In 2015-16 the Ombudsman received approval from the Board of Internal Economy for an additional 57 FTEs to support its new jurisdiction, for a total of 143 FTEs. Recruitment continues to fill the newly allocated positions.

The Office of the Ombudsman maintains a high social media presence and individuals may contact the Office to lodge a complaint in person, in writing, via toll-free telephone, email, internet or using a mobile web application. The Office provides extensive information about its operations and specific investigations in both English and French, on its website at www.ombudsman.on.ca.